Developing a novel peer support intervention to promote resilience after stroke.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Stroke significantly impacts survivors' physical, mental, and social well-being, with limited strategies for long-term outcome improvement.
• Resilience, crucial for mental health in older adults, has been under-explored in the context of post-stroke adjustment.
• There is a need for evidence-based interventions to support stroke survivors in adapting to life after stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and conduct a preliminary evaluation of a novel intervention designed to foster resilience in individuals following a stroke.
• To apply the UK Medical Research Council (UKMRC) framework for complex intervention development and feasibility testing.
• To investigate stroke survivors', carers', and professionals' perspectives on resilience and its role in post-stroke recovery.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review and stakeholder consultations (survivors, carers, professionals) informed intervention design.
• A 6-week group-based peer support intervention was developed, targeting mechanisms like social learning and meaning-making.
• Feasibility and acceptability were assessed through preliminary evaluation with 11 older stroke survivors in a community setting.

Main Results:

• The developed peer support intervention was found to be feasible to deliver in a community setting.
• The intervention was deemed acceptable by stroke survivors, peer facilitators, and healthcare professionals involved in stroke care.
• Stakeholder engagement and a phased development approach ensured the intervention was empirically and theoretically grounded.

Conclusions:

• This study successfully developed a theoretically robust intervention to promote resilience after stroke using the UKMRC framework.
• The preliminary findings support the feasibility and acceptability of the peer support intervention for stroke survivors.
• Further research, including a randomized feasibility study, is warranted to confirm efficacy in a larger and more diverse stroke survivor population.